Spoiler alert: This weekly blog is for anyone who's seen the first episode of Misfits. Please bear in mind when commenting that other readers may not have seen the entire series.

So what have we got?

Six kids lined up for community service. Cheeky, on the phone, less than happy to be here. An opening monologue that could be something out of a Super Friends recruitment drive, or an inspirational be-all-you-can-be self-help group - until we get to the last line.

"This is it. This is your chance to do something positive. Give something back. You can help people. You can really make a difference to people's lives. That's what community service is all about."

They're put to work painting some benches until - WHAM! - huge chunks of hail rain down, lightning strikes and they're all left feeling, well, a bit odd. When the probation worker who's patiently looking after them turns into an axe-wielding homicidal monster, they end up killing him, and make a pact to keep it quiet - which binds them together as an uncomfortable team - the Injustice League?

It's a pattern of subtle superhero subversion that Misfits maintains all the way through this opening episode. We get the mysterious happening (unexpected exposure to gamma rays or a radioactive accident in space) - except that one of the team misses out because he's bunked off to clean his baseball cap in the loo. Like Unbreakable, where security guard Bruce Willis kept his raincoat and cap on for his invincible adventures, it's pulled the trick of giving superheroes costumes (orange jumpsuits) that don't involve lycra, underpants or swishy capes (it's never really been explained how the radioactive spider bite that gives Peter Parker the ability to crawl up walls also gives him super-Spidey sewing skills). Instead of a Batcave, they're hanging out in a locker room. Instead of mild mannered reporters turning into supermen, here the lightning seems to have amplified their personalities, fears and insecurities and made them real. Curtis is full of regrets about his sporting career, and now he can rewind things as they happen. Introverted Simon already feels socially invisible - now he's really invisible.

ITV2's No Heroes was the last show to play with the idea of British superheroes, but it was very much a sitcom, packed with little nods to comic book history. Misfits is a much darker proposition, more like E4's zombie drama Dead Set in tone, and confident enough to operate in its own universe and set up something new. It's also using that Skins technique of presenting us with a tabloid stereotype - the asbo teenager - and then slowly pulling back to show us the real people behind the hoodie headlines.

So who are the misfits? (*Not to be confused with the skull-loving US punk legends. www.misfits.com)

CurtisOne-time Olympic running hopeful who can now turn back time. Nice touch having him rewinding footage of his track win on video.

KellyCan hear everyone's thoughts (mainly about her being a "chav").

SimonMoody loner, who turns invisible.

AlishaHer power seems to be to turn men into drooling sex pests. What would Wonder Woman say?

Nathan So far his only power seems to be the gift of incessant back-chat. Played by Robert Sheehan (who you might recognise as Red Riding's BJ), he's the breakout star of the show.

Gary Misses out on the lightning storm, winds up dead in a locker. Will he be back?

Interactive stuff

As it's one of E4's fully integrated, more-than-just-TV shows, you can also follow the kids on Twitter and Facebook - where you'll find helpful insights like this from @kellymisfitsthngs I luv 2day. Keith (dog), Lee (bf) . Thngs I h8. bloke in top flat (wnkr) and commnty f***ng srvce

or this from Simon's Facebook pageSimon Bellamy (MISFITS) is thinking of re-inventing himself for his Community Service. I might try a scottish accent - no one messes with them. But I tried a new accent at one of my schools and Gavin Howith cripple-nippled me till milk came out. i'll probably just keep quiet.

… but that's only if you want TV characters to "talk" to you after the show.

Misfit thoughts

Big bad watchThey've already disposed of the rabid, axe-wielding probation worker who was supposed to be looking after them. Is there going to be an evil mastermind for them to take on?

What could Nathan's power be?Will it be "something from the A list?" as he puts it - flying? Super-strength? Even though he's the most immediately engaging (alright, gobby) of the Misfits, he's been left out of the lightning force so far - what do you think his mutant ability could be? Motormouth? If you look closely at the opening credits, there's a wolf following him - could he be a werewolf?